Chair with footrest



Feb. 27, 1968 w, 3, E S, JR 3,370,884

CHAIR WITH FOOTREST 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23. 1966 ATTORNEY Feb.27, 1968 w. c. ROGERS, JR

CHAIR WITH FOOTREST 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, 1966 INVENTORWALTER CLARK R06ERS,JR.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1968 W. (2. ROGERS, JR

CHAIR WITH FOO'I'REST 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 25, 1966 INVENTORWALTER CLARK ROGERS,JR.

ATTORNEYS BYM/W gm Feb. 8 w. c. ROGERS, JR

CHAIR WITH FOOTREST 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 25, 1966 WALTER CLARKROGERS,JR.

BY fi m- 4 W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,370,884 CHAIR WITHFOOTREST Waiter C. Rogers, Jr., High Point, N.'C., assignor to RoyalDevelopment Company, Inc, High Point, N.C., a corporation of NorthCarolina Filed Mar. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 536,882 19 Claims. (Cl. 297-68)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An extendible and retractable footrestparticularly suitable in a position chair of the type having a base, achair frame including a seat swingably mounted by a linkage to the basefor movement between a lower rear position and an upper forwardposition, and a backrest swingably connected to the chair frame linkageto move the chair frame to its upper and forward position upon movementof the backrest into an inclined position for reclining. The footrestlinkage includes a pair of elongated and generally parallel extensionlinks swingably connected to the chair frame linkage for movementbetween a retracted position below the chair and an extended positionprojecting forwardly from the chair in response to movement of the chairframe into the upper and forward position. The connection of theextension links to the chair frame linkage includes a crank which causesthe extension links to move relative to each other during their movementinto the extended position. This relative movement unfolds the footrestproper from a retracted position generally adjacent the extension linksto a use position spaced above the latter. The linkage connecting theextension links to the chair frame linkage further provides a rigidtrussed support for the extension links and footrest proper when intheir extended position so that the extension links may not beinadvertently retracted from the extended position but rather requirethat the footrest proper be folded relative to the extension linksbefore the latter may be retracted under the chair. To bias theextension links in both their extended and retracted positions, anover-center spring arrangement is provided.

This invention relates to a chair having a new and improved footrest.

One of, the objects of the present invention is a chair having afootrest which provides comfortable leg and foot support while beingquickly and smoothly operable between an extended position for use and aconcealed, retracted position beneath the chair.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a footrestwhich is compact and durable and moreover may be incorporated intoupholstered and other decorative chairs without detracting from theappearance of the chair or adversely affecting its design andconstruction.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a footrestwhich may be incorporated into a position chair such as disclosed in mycopending US. application entitled, Positionable Chair, Ser. No.523,296, filed Jan. 27, 1966, now Patent No. 3,337,267, although thepresent invention is not limited to such a chair. Included in thisobject is the provision of such a footrest which is automatically movedto an extended position for use when the chair is moved into recliningposition, but may also be operated manually between extended andretracted positions when the chair is in normal, or upright, position.

Achieving the above objects is a footrest assembly including a pair ofelongated and generally parallel extension links mounted for movementwith respect to an associated chair between a retracted positiongenerally 3,376,884 Patented Feb. 27, 1968 ice underlying the chair andan extended position projected forwardly from the chair. The extensionlinks are mounted for this movement with respect to the associated chairby a linkage which provides relative longitudinal movement between theextension links during their movement into their extended position. Thisrelative movement is employed to unfold the footrest proper from aretracted position generally adjacent the extension links to a raised,use, position above the extension links. When the footrest is in theextended use position, its associated linkage rigidly supports itagainst inadvertent movement towards the retracted position. To retractthe footrest, it is necessary to fold the footrest proper relative tothe extension links into a position adjacent the latter whereupon theextension links may be retracted under the associated chair. Preferably,a suitable over-center spring arrange ment is provided to bias theextension links in both their extended and retracted positions.

The footrest assembly may be incorporated into a position chair of thetype that is movable between a normal upright position and a recliningposition wherein the backrest of the chair extends rearwardly at anincline. One such position chair includes a base, a chair frameincluding a seat swingably connected to the base for movement betweenupper and lower positions, and a backrest swingably connected to thechair frame for movement between a normal or upright position and areclining or inclined position. The backrest is operatively connected tothe linkage which mounts the chair frame relative to the base so thatwhen the backrest is moved into the reclining position, the chair framewill be raised and moved forwardly. The extension links are operativelyconnected to the chair frame linkage such that when the chair frame israised and moved forwardly in response to the movement of the backrestinto the inclined position, the extension links will be projectedforwardly from the chair to ultimately cause placement of the footrestin the proper use position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a position chair embodying thepresent invention with certain parts, including supporting linkage,removed, and others shown in phantom for purposes of clarity;

FiG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the chair in a recliningposition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational View of linkage included in the chair ofFIG. 1, the linkage being shown in a fully retracted position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with certain parts broken awayand removed;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the linkage shown in FIG. 3 with a portion ofthe footrest shown in phantom;

FIG. 6 is a view in reduced scale, similar to FIG. 3 but with thelinkage shown in the position assumed when the chair is in a recliningposition and the footrest in a partially extended position;

FIG. 6a is a fragmental view of a portion of the linkage as shown inFIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but with the linkage shown in anotherposition, assumed when the chair and footrest are in further recliningand extended positions;

FIG. 7a is a fragmental view of a portion of the linkage as shown inFIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but with the linkage shown in anotherposition, assumed when the chair and footrest are in fully reclining andextended positions, respectively;

FIG. 8a is a fragmental view of a portion of the linkage shown in FIG.8;

FIG. 9 is a view generally similar to FIG. 8 except that the linkage isshown in the position assumed when the chair is in normal, or upright,position, and the footrest in fully extended position; and

FIG. 9a is a fragmental view of a portion of the linkage as shown inFIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 show, forillustrative purposes only, a position chair embodying the footrest ofthe present invention generally designated 10. The illustrated chaircorresponds generally to the chair disclosed in FIGS. 8 and 9 of myaboveidentified copending U.S. application, and is of the type that ismovable between a normal, or upright, position shown in FIG. 1 and areclining position shown in FIG. 2. Basically included in the chair area base 12, a chair frame 14 pivotally mounted to the base 12, and abackrest 16 pivotally connected with respect to the chair frame formovement between the normal and reclining positions shown in FIGS. 1 and2.

Base 12 includes two steel tubes 18 extending along the opposite sidesof the chair and connected at the back of the chair by a cross-piece 20,from the opposite ends of which depend the back legs 22 of the chair.The front legs 2.4 of the chair are suitably attached to the front endsof tube 18. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chair legs are dimensionedsufficiently to define a space 26 beneath the chair for receiving thefootrest However, because of the present invention, as will besubsequently apparent, space 26 may be reduced in depth in comparison tothat of conventional, or prior art, chairs, equipped with footrests.

Chair frame 14 is shown as including opposite wooden side rails 28interconnected by front andback rails 29 to form a rectangular structurewhich supports a seat 30. Upstanding from side rails 28 are arm rests32, which are fixed to rails 28 and move together with the latter aswell as seat 30. Chair frame 14.is mounted for movement between anormal, or upright, position closely overlying base 12 as shown in FIG.1, and a reclining position raised from and disposed forwardly of base12, as shown in FIG. 2. This mounting of chair frame 14 is effected bylinkage which includes on each side of the chair a seat link 34 fixedalong side rail 28, and front and rear support links 36 and 40,respectively, pivoted'to seat link 34 at pivots 38 and 42, and extendingdownwardly 'at an angle toward the front end of the chair and base tube18 to which they are also pivoted at 39 and 43. The upper and lowerpositions of the chair frame are determined by a stop link 46, fixed tobase tube 18 and projecting upwardly at an angle toward front supportlink 36. Longitudinally formed in stop link 46 is an elongated slot 48which receives a stop pin 50 fixed to front support link 36.

Backrest 16 includes a generally rectangular frame formed by oppositeside rails 52interconnected bytop and bottom rails 54. Any suitablebackrest, such as that represented at 56, is fixed to the backrest frameto support the back of one using the chair in typical fashion. Fixed toeach backrest side rail 52, is a backrest link 60 which projectsdownwardly beyond bottom rail 54 while curving toward the front of thechair for a distance sufficient to be pivotally connected at 62 to rearsupport link 40. Thus, when the backrest 16 is pivoted counterclockwise,as shown in the drawings, backrest link 60 will cause clockwise rotationof rear support link 40 to thus raise and move forwardly the chair frame14 into the position illustrated in FIG. 2. When the occupant in thechair'releases pressure on the backrest, the weight of the occupant willcause the linkage elements to move in reverse directions to restore thechair to its normal, or upright, position as shown in FIG. 1.

To limit movement of backrest 16 relative to chair frame 14, a shortlink 64 is pivotally connected at its opposite ends by pivots '67 and 68to backrest link 60 and the end of seat link 34, respectively. For amore detailed description of the structure and operation of theaforedescribed linkage, reference may be had to my above-identifiedcopending U.S. application.

Before turning to footrest 10-, it should be first noted thatconventional and prior art footrests usually are connected into thechair such that in moving between extended and retracted positions, theyare rotated or pivoted about a horizontal axis extending transversely ofthe chair.

This arrangement in many instances has been found to increase the spacerequirement below the chair'in order to permit the footrest to be swunginto its opposite retracted and extended positions. Moreover, in somestructures, it has been found to complicate the structure and operationof the linkage which supports the footrest.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improvedlinkage, generally designated 70, which, among other advantages,overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies of prior and conventionalfootrests. In the illustrated embodiment, linkage 70 is provided on eachside of the chair andincludes a bracket 72 fixed to the end of footrest10 in a generally horizontal plane. Pivotally connected to bracket 72 todepend downwardly from bracket 72 is a pair of links 76, 78; link 76being connected to the extremity of a sloping bracket portion .73 bypivot 77, while link 78 is connected intermediate the ends of bracket 72by pivot 79. Links 76 and 78 extend generally in side-by-siderelationship, and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to a pairof elongated links, hereinafter termed extension links 80 and-82, whichextend forwardly and rearwardly of the chair. In this latter connection,both link 76 and 78 are connected to extension link 82 by pivots 86 and88, respectively, while link 76, which is a primary link in thissubassembly, is also pivotally connected at 84 intermediate its ends toextension link 80. It will be seen that forward longitudinal movement ofextension link 80 relative to extension 82 will cause links 76 and 78 torotate clockwise to thus raise bracket 72 and footrest 10 into a fullyprojected or extended position such as shown in FIGS. 8 or 9, while thereverse movement will cause bracket 72 and footrest 10 to rotate in theopposite direction into a retracted position shown in FIG. 6. Movementof links 76 and 78 relative to extension links 80 and 82 beyondthe-fully extended position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is prevented byengagement between link 76 and a stepped portion 81 of link 78.

Extension links 80 and 82 are mounted to seat link 34 for swingingmovement between the extended position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and theretracted position shown in FIG. 3, by means of links 90, 92, and 94.Link 90 is pivoted at 96 on its lower end to an intermediate portion ofextension link 82 while the opposite end of link 90 is pivoted at 98 toan offset bracket 100 which extends along and is fixed to seat link 34to define therewith an elongated space 101 (see FIG. 5) which receivesthe upper end of link 90. Link 92 has a boomerang shape and is pivotedat 102 on its upper end to the external face of'bracket 100 and at itslower end'at 104 to the rear end of extension link 82. Link 94-is a bellcrank with its fulcrum 106 being a pivotal connection to link 92 andwith its lower end pivotallyconnected at 108 to the rear endof'extension link 80. The opposite end of bell crank 941s pivoted at 110to a straight connecting link 112 which extends to link 90' and ispivoted thereto adjacent the upper end of link 90 at 114. As will beexplained subsequently, rotation of hell crank 94 is employed to moveextension links longitudinally relative to each other for raising andlowering footrest 10 between the positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 8.

Movement of the footrest linkage between the fully extended andretracted postions'simultaneously with movement of the chair betweenreclining and upright positions is effected through links 116 and 120.Link'116 is a drive-transmitting link the upper end of which is pivotedat 117 to an intermediate portion of connecting link'112.

The opposite lower end of link 116 is pivoted at 118 to the front end oflink 120 which is a drive link connected at pivot 43 which also mountsrear support link 40 with respect to base tube 18. The rear end 122 ofdrive link 120 projects upwardly a short distance and has fixed on itsextremity a stud 124- Which is engageable with the edge of rear supportlink 40 so that when rear support link 4% is rotating clockwise duringmovement of the chair towards reclining position, drive link 120 willalso rotate clockwise to actuate the footrest linkage from the retractedposition of FIG. 3 successively into the positions of FIGS. 6, 7, and 8.It will be understood from FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 that in actuating thefootrest linkage, movement of the drive link 120 is transmitted by link116 to pivot connecting link 112 downwardly in counterclockwisedirection which swings link 90 downwardly also in counterclockwisedirection while lowering and simultaneously rotating bell crank 94counterclockwise. Continued rotation of hell crank 94 will causeextension link 80 to advance relative to extension link 82 whereuponlinks 76 and 7 8 will begin to unfold in clockwise direction to raisefootrest 10 from the position of FIG. 6 to the fully extended positionof FIG. 8.

In order to bias the footrest in its extended and retracted positions,there is provided an over-center bias in cluding a tension coil spring130 having one end fixed about a stud 132 located on an intermediateportion of extension link 80 and its opposite end fixed about a stud 134located on the extremity of bell crank 94 adjacent pivot 168. Spring 130acts above pivot 198 to bias the footrest in the fully retractedposition shown in FIG. 3, and in the fully extended position of thefootrest, spring 13% acts below pivot 168 to provide an opposite bias.

As mentioned above, the footrest in the illustrated embodiment issupported by identical linkage on each side of the chair. To insure thatboth linkage assemblies will act as a unit, there is provided in theillustrated embodiment a flange 136 projecting inwardly from bell crank94 to receive a suitable connecting element such as a torque member (notshown) which interconnects both linkage assembli s to providesimultaneous movement.

in use, assuming that an occupant is sitting in the chair while it is inupright, or normal, position with the footrest in fully retractedposition, to recline the chair the occupant merely applies pressure onthe backrest 16 which raises the chair frame 14 above and forwardly ofthe base 12 into the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. This movement ofthe chair frame will also cause drive link 12%) to swing downwardly andactuate links 99, 92, and 94 to thus extend forwardly extension links 80and 82 in the manner described above. In this forward movement towardextended position, extension links 80 and 82 initially undergo slightlongitudinal movement and thus links 7s and 78 which connect to thefootrest bracket 72 remain in folded position closely overlying theextension links as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. When the footrest linkagereaches the position shown in FIG. 6, bell crank 94, with the aid ofsprin 130 (which has just passed center), advances extension link 89relative to link 82, thus causing links 76 and 73 to begin to unfold inclockwise direction, raising footrest 10, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Continued movement of the footrest linkage causes links 75 and 78 toreach their fully unfolded position as shown in FIG. 8 as determined byengagement between link 7 6 and portion 81 of link 78. As fullyextended, footrest 10 is in its uppermost position, and it will be notedthat throughout movement of the footrest linkage, footrest 19 remainsgenerally horizontally disposed. Moreover when the footrest is in thefully extended position, links 99, 92, 94, and 112 combine to rigidlysupport extension links 80 and 82 against return movement under thechair. This is obtained by links 94 and 112 and their connection tolinks 90 and 92 whereby the latter are rigidly trussed together as aunit to support extension links 80 and 82 in their fully extendedposition. Through the above-described action of the shown footrest, ahighly compact and smoothly operable arrangement is obtained. However,it will be apparent that other types of footrests and footrest motionmay be employed in connection with extension links and 82 and theirsupporting links 99, 92, S 4, and 112 which, as indicated, provide animproved linkage assembly.

If the occuptant wishes to restore the chain to normal, or upright,position, pressure against the backrest is released and the weight ofthe occupant will lower and move rearwardly the chair frame which willcause the backrest 16 to pivot forwardly into upright position. However,the footrest will remain in fully extended position. If it is desired toretract the footrest under the chair, footrest 1% is pushed rearwardlyof the chair, which first causes links 76 and 78 to foldcounterclockwise, after which continued movement of the footrestrearwardly will cause the extension links to move longitudinallyrearwardly until spring 13% is positioned above the pivot 168 whichspring then becomes 6.18Cil16 to move the footrest linkage into fullyretracted position without further manual effort. It should be noted inconnection with return of the footrest, that as described above,extension links 80 and 82 are rigidly supported in their fully extendedposition against return movement, by links 9% and 92 which are rigidlytrussed together by links 4 and 112. Thus in order to retract thefootrest, extension links 80 and 82 must be moved relative to each otheras is accomplished by pivoting links 76 and 78 counterclockwise throughrearward movement of the footrest as described above.

Extension of the footrest while the chain is in upright position mayalso be effected merely by reaching below the chair and pulling thefootrest forwardly until the action of spring becomes effective to movethe footrest to fully extended position.

it will thus be seen that in addition to the above-described advantages,the present invention provides an improved linkage assembly whichrigidly supports the footrest in extended position and yet is easilyoperable in moving the footrest between its opposite positions.

Modifications and adaptations of the present invention readily apparentfrom the foregoing description and as sociated drawings, although notspecifically mentioned herein, will nevertheless be included within thescope of the present invention as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a chair or the like the combination comprising, a footrestpositioned generally in a horizontal plane, and means including pivotedlinkage members between the footrest and the chair for supporting andmoving the footrest between a retracted position below the chair and anoperative position extended from the chair while maintaining thefootrest generally horizontally disposed, said linkage members includingextension linkage movable generally longitudinally forwardly andrearwardly of the chain, and a footrest linkage pivotally connected atone end to the front end of said extension linkage and at the oppositeend to the footrest, said extension linkage including a pair ofextension links positioned in generally side by side and parallelrelationship and movable longitudinally relatively to each other, saidfootrest including a pair of links pivotally connected to the front endof one of said extension links, one of said pair of links of saidfootrest linkage being pivotally connected intermediate its ends to theother extension links so as to be unfoldable from a retracted positionto an extended position upon relative movement of said extension linksto ultimately unfold the footrest from a retracted position to anextended position.

2. In a chair or the like a footrest positioned generally in ahorizontal plane, and means for supporting and moving the footrestbetween a retracted position below the chair and an operative positionextended from the chair while maintaining the footrest generallyhorizontally disposed, said means including pivoted linkage membersbetween the footrest and the chair, said linkage members includingextension linkage movable generally longitudinally forwardly andrearwardly of the chair, and first linkage pivotally connected at oneend to the front end of said extension linkage and at the opposite endto the footrest, said extension linkage including a pair of extensionlinks positioned in side by side interrelationship and movablelongitudinally relative to each other, said first linkage including apair of links pivotally connected to the front end of one of saidextension links, one of said links of said first linkage being pivotallyconnected intermediate its. ends to the other extension link, saidsecond linkage including a first link pivotally connected with respectto the chair and to an intermediate portion of said one extension link,a bell crank having one end pivotally connected to the other extensionlink,

7 and a third, connecting, link having one end pivotally connected tosaid first link of said second linkage and another end connected to theother end of said bell crank.

3. A position chair including in combination, a base, a chair frameincluding a seat and a backrest pivotally connected with respect to theseat, first linkage means mounting said chair frame to said base formovement generally vertically and horizontally relative to said base, afootrest disposed generally horizontally, second linkage means mountingthe footrest to the chair for movement between an extended positionprojected from the chair and a retracted position beneath the chairwhile maintaining the footrest generally horizontally disposed, thirdlinkage means driveably interconnecting said first and second linkagemeans to actuate said second linkage means upon movement of said firstlinkage means, a seat link fixed along one side of the chair frame, saidfirst linkage means including a support link pivotally connected to bothsaidseat link and said base, said third linkage means including a drivelink engageable and activated by said support link, a backrest linkfixed to the backrest and pivotally connected to said support link toactuate said support link and move the chair frame relative to the basewhen the backrest is pivoted relative to the chair frame into aninclined position for reclining.

4. In a chair or the like the combination comprising, a footrestassembly comprising a pair of generally parallel extension links, firstmeans mounting said extension links below the chair for translationalmovement generally along their longitudinal directions between aretracted position below the chair and-a projected position forwardly ofthe chair while maintaining said links in substantially parallelrelationship and providing limited relative movement between said links,second means caus- 7 ing relative longitudinal movement of saidextension links during movement of said extension links towards theirprojected position, a footrest, and third means for supporting thefootrest between a retracted position adjacent the extension links and araised position spaced above the extension links, said third means beingoperatively connected to at least one of said extension links so as tobe movable to place the footrest in said raised position upon relativemovement of said extension links during movement of said extension linkstowards their projected position.

5. In a chair or the like, a footrest assembly comprising a pair ofgenerally parallel extension links, first means mounting said extensionlinks below the chair for translational movement generally along theirlongitudinal directions between a retracted position below the chair anda projected position forwardly of the chair while maintaining said linksin substantially parallel relationship and providing limited relativemovement between said links, second means on one end of said links forsupporting a footrest, said first means including a third link pivotallyconnected to the chair and to one of said extension links, a fourth,bell crank link having opposite arms one of which being. pivotallyconnected to the other extension 8 link, and a fifth link pivotallyconnected to said third link and the other arm of said bell crank link.

6. A position chair including in combination, a base, a chair frameincluding a seat and a backrest pivotally connected with respect to theseat, first linkage means mounting said chair frame to said base formovement generally vertically and horizontally relative to said base, afootrest disposed generally horizontally, second linkage means mountingthe footrest to the chair for movement between an extended positionprojected from the chair and a retracted position beneath the chairwhile maintaining the footrest generally horizontally disposed, thirdlinkage means drivably interconnecting said first and second linkagemeans to actuate said second linkage means upon movement of said firstlinkage means, said first linkage means including a support linkpivotally connected to both said chair frame and said base, said thirdlinkage means including a drive link engageable and activated by saidsupport link, a backrest link fixed to the backrest and pivotallyconnected to said support link to actuate said support link and move thechair frame relative to the base when the backrest is pivoted relativeto the chair frame into an inclined position for reclining.

7. A linkage for supporting and actuating a footrest in a chair formovement between an extended position projected from the chair and aretracted position below the chair comprising in combination, a pair ofelongated extension links positioned in generally close and parallelrelationship, first linkage means operatively'connected to the extensionlinks and adapted to be connected to the chair to move the extensionlinks generally along their longitudinal directions between retractedand extended positions thereof while permitting limited relativemovement between the extension links during their'movement into theextended position, second linkage means for causing said extension linksto move relative to each other during their movement into the extendedposition, and third linkage means adapted to be connected to a footrestto move the footrest between a retracted position adjacent the extensionlinks and an extended position spaced above the extension links, saidthird linkage-means being operatively connected to at least one of saidextension links to be moved thereby into an extended position forplacing the footrest in extended position in response to relativemovement of said extension links during their movement into the extendedposition.

8. The linkage defined in claim 7 wherein said third linkage includes afirst link having one end portion pivot ally connected to both of saidextension links, the other end portion of said one link adapted to beconnected to a footrest to move and supoprt the'same between theextended and retracted positions thereof.

9. The linkage defined in claim 8 wherein said one link is pivoted tosaid extension links to be movable between a retracted positionextending adjacent to and generally in the same direction as theextension links and an extended position projecting upwardly from theextension links.

10. The linkage defined in claim 9 wherein the pivotal connections ofsaid one link to said extension links are spaced longitudinally alongsaid one link.

11. The linkage defined in claim 10 wherein said third linkage meansfurther includes a second link having one end pivotally connected to oneof said extension links and extending generally coextensively with saidone link and terminating in an opposite end adapted to be pivotallyconnected to' a footrest.

12. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said second linkage furtherincludes a fourth link pivotally connected to the chair at one end andto said one extension link at the other end, said fourth link of saidsecond linkage being connected at the fulcrum of said bell crank;

13. A linkage for supporting a footrest in a chair for movement betweenextended positions projected from the chair and a retracted positionbelow the chair, the linkage comprising a pair of elongated extensionlinks extending generally in side-by-side relationship, a pair of linkspivotally connected at their adjacent ends to one of said extensionlinks at a forward end of the extension link, one of said pair of linksbeing pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the forward end ofthe other extension link, a bracket link pivotally connected across theopposite ends of said pair of links, a third link having one endpivotally connected to an intermediate portion of said one extensionlink and having an opposite end adapted to be pivotally connected to achair, a bell crank having one end pivotally connected to the otherextension link, and a fourth link pivotally connected to the oppositeend of the bell crank and to an intermediate portion of said third link.

14. The linkage defined in claim 13 further including a fifth linkhaving one end pivotally connected to said one extension link and anopposite end adapted to be pivotally connected to the chair, said fifthlink having an intermediate portion pivotally connected at a fulcrum ofsaid bell crank.

15. The linkage defined in claim 14 further including a drive linkadapted to be pivotally mounted to the chair for rotation, and a drivetransmitting link pivotally connected to said drive link and to anintermediate portion of said fourth link.

16. The chair defined in claim 3 further including a short linkpivotally connected to the backrest link and the seat link, and a stopmeans limiting movement of said chair frame relative to said seat, andwherein said first linkage means includes a second support linkpivotably connected to said seat link and said base.

17. The structure defined in claim 5 further including a sixth linkpivotally connected to the chair and to said one extension link, saidbell-crank link having a fulcrum 10 intermediate said arms thereofpivotally connected to an intermediate portion of said sixth link.

18. The structure defined in claim 17 wherein said third link hasopposite end portions projecting outwardly at an angle on one sidethereof, said opposite end portions being respectively pivotallyconnected to the chair and said one extension link, said bell-crank linkhas a generally L-shaped configuration, and said sixth link has agenerally boomerang shape while being pivotally connected at one end tosaid one extension link and at the opposite end to the chair.

19. The structure defined in claim 5 wherein said bellcrank link has oneend portion adjacent but spaced from the pivotal connection to saidother extension link and wherein there is further provided a tensionspring interconnected between said one end portion of said bellcranklink and an intermediate portion of said other extension link to providean over-center biasing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,951,793 3/ 1934 Herman 29'7--782,046,644 7/ 1936 Martin 2978l 212,474 2/ 1879 Keiran 29768 426,6024/1890 Muhl 297-68 556,343 3/1896 Fleer et al 297430 X 2,326,910 8/1943Young 297-69 2,880,784 4/ 1959 Navelle et a1. 29784 2,903,045 9/1959Viall 29'769 FOREIGN PATENTS 198,879 4/ 1920 Canada. 602,342 12/ 1925France.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner.

